Democratic lawmakers push GAO probe of DHS secret data grabs on journalists and NGOs
Two Democratic members of Congress asked the GAO to examine DHS's use of obscure administrative summonses that have been used to secretly collect information on journalists, nonprofits and unions.
Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington have asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate the Department of Homeland Security’s expanding use of administrative summonses that bypass judicial oversight. Evidence shows Homeland Security Investigations used the tool to secretly acquire six months of telephone records for Minneapolis journalist Georgia Fort and to compel Google to turn over YouTube account data for Fort and broadcaster Don Lemon after a judge rejected a warrant.
Similar summonses have been employed to obtain financial details from labor unions, Venmo transactions of a nonprofit, and to pressure tech giants Meta, X and Reddit to reveal anonymous critics, often accompanied by language prohibiting disclosure to the targeted individuals. Privacy experts say the non-disclosure provision is not enforceable and infringes on First Amendment protections. Wyden and Jayapal also seek clarification on whether DHS altered its policies after a 2017 inspector-general report and request the Judicial Conference revise subpoena templates to permit notification absent a court order. A GAO spokesperson confirmed the office is examining the request.
Why it matters
It addresses potential government overreach that could erode privacy and free-speech rights.
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